Minichromosome maintenance complex component 4 (MCM4)

Minichromosome maintenance complex component 4 (MCM4) is one of six minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins (MCM2-7) that form the core DNA helicase essential for “once per cell cycle” initiation and elongation of eukaryotic DNA replication[1][3][4][5]. The MCM2-7 hexamer forms a catalytic core of the CMG helicase (CDC45-MCM-GINS), unwinding template DNA during replication. Phosphorylation of MCM4 by kinases (such as CDC2, Cdc7, CDKs) modulates its helicase activity and chromatin binding, coupling its function to cell cycle progression and DNA damage checkpoints[1][5]. MCM4 expression is tightly regulated during the cell cycle, is often upregulated in cancer, and its dysfunction is linked to genomic instability, immunodeficiencies, and increased susceptibility to certain infections[1][2][8]. The MCM complex interacts with numerous proteins involved in DNA replication, repair, and checkpoint regulation, highlighting its broad functional significance[7].

Other names

NKCDCDC21CDC54IMD54NKGCDhCdc21P1-CDC21

Inhibition of DNA helicase activity leads to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in proliferating cancer cells. Potential for targeting replication licensing to prevent tumour growth.